Groundcover News exists to create opportunity and a voice for low-income people while taking action to end homelessness and poverty.

Groundcover News, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in April 2010 as a means to empower low-income persons to make the transitions from homeless to housed, and from jobless to employed. Street newspapers like Groundcover News exist in cities all over the United States, as well as in more than 40 other countries, in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of homeless and combat the increase in poverty. For more information, visit the North American Street Newspaper Association.

Groundcover News approaches all of our activities with the following principles. We believe:

• All people have the right to dignity. • Diversity has intrinsic value. • Poverty is political—systemic change is necessary. • Building community is essential to social change. • Political effectiveness requires staying power. • Solutions to poverty must involve people who are directly affected. • Risks are necessary to create positive change. • Meeting people where they are honors their skills and potential. • We are committed to quality, professionalism, and accountability in everything we do.

Help promote Groundcover as a progressive alternative to panhandling by downloading THESE COUPONS to give to folks panhandling on the streets of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township, Dexter, or Chelsea!

Many thanks to Stevie D and the Wannabes, the Heidelberg Restaurant, the U-M Groundcover student group, the businesses who donated raffle prizes and all those who attended Friday night’s fundraiser! If you couldn’t make the event but would still like to help our vendors and volunteers get to the International Street Newspaper conference this Sunday, click the “Donate” button on the side of the page. Thanks again for all of your support, and keep your eye out for future fundraisers.

Join the dance party on Friday, March 27 and have your admission go towards sending some of our hard-working vendors and volunteers to the International Street Newspaper conference this summer. It’s just a $5 cover charge (with an opportunity to contribute more) for 4 hours of music and fun courtesy of Stevie D and the Wannabees, 7 – 11 p.m. at the Heidelberg lower level, 215 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Buy your ticket in advance through our website (and maybe add a little more to cover the bite Paypal takes) by using the red DONATE NOW button or pay at the door. Alternatively, up until March 22, you can mail a check, made out Groundcover News with Cover Charge on the memo line, to our office (423 S. 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104).

Many people want to help panhandlers on the street but aren’t sure exactly how to do so. Sure, you could give them cash, but that’s not helping them develop skills or move out of their current situation. Here’s something we based on what other street newspapers have done: information coupons.

These coupons can be given to panhandlers in place of money, both to give them information about Groundcover and to show them where people are more willing to give their money. Print them off and hand them out to panhandlers you see; it will get the ball rolling for them and hopefully end with them becoming a Groundcover vendor and developing skills that can help them get back on their feet. COUPONS FOR PANHANDLERS